healthy living tips by Dr.Vina

Can Rhubarb Extract Help Menopausal Symptoms?

2008-05-02T11:45:00.005+09:00

By Anita, California, USA

Did you know that a form of rhubarb-extract has actually been relieving menopausal symptoms for women is some parts of the world?

Apparently it has been in the form of a special extract from the rhubarb root called ERr-731. Studies have been going on for some time in Germany, where the root is actually listed and approved there as a remedy for constipation.

The rhubarb extract study took 109 women who were perimenopausal and experiencing frequent hot-flashes and night sweats. They were divided into two groups, with one group taking a pill containing ERr-731 in the rhubarb-extract. The other half of the women were given a placebo. These ladies participated in the study for three months.

Of this group, the ladies taking the extract clearly reported fewer hot-flashes within the first month. The ladies taking the placebo reported no change in their condition. There appeared to be no negative side effects.

The special extract does not contain any estrogen or other type of hormone. There is no clear reason for what reduced the night sweats and hot flashes, so researchers feel that further study is required. All they know is that it seems to work.

For more info about the benefits of rhubarb go to http://www.savor-the-rhubarb.com/index.html

Photo by Yarik

Strategy to cope with stress

2008-04-29T17:18:00.015+09:00

When was the last time you passed your day without having any stress? In human life, joyful times and stressful moments come in a package. To be short, stress is an innate part of our every day life. It is there and we just need to figure out the way to cope with that. Fortunately, we have learned a lot accumulatively from human history and it is well-recorded in medical literatures. Here are some simple tips in managing your stress level:

Slow down your pace. What it means is you need to break your life pattern in general when you feel the pressure is just too much for you. Reduce your commute and your work week at least temporarily. Avoid any activities that could drain your energy. Find out what you really want to do and love to do in your life. If you have a job, whenever possible renegotiate vacation and leave time with your boss
Try herbs and nutritional therapy. During a stressful time, you need to eat well-balanced food. Avoid any stress aggravating food e.g. you need to reduce consumption of alcoholic beverage and coffee. Instead you might want to try some herbs and dietary supplements helpful in combating emotional symptoms (irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness, and mild to moderate depression) that stress can create. There are a variety of nerve herbs available over the counter at most drugstores or natural-health stores.
Heal yourself from inside out. One of the most ancient forms of healing involves energy healing, which can involve therapeutic touch or healing touch. For many, stress relief is at their fingertips. Massage therapy—more technically referred to as soft-tissue manipulation—can be beneficial for combating your stress
Take a good care of yourself. When you have a difficult time, get creative. Pamper yourself by enjoying your food. Get more quality sleep. See more friends to avoid loneliness.
Have enough healthy workouts. You can try meditation or practice yoga for stress relief. Our body is so naturally designed to move. So get moving. Some jogging around the park or swimming will do the job. Have a passionate sex and create enough stress-fighting endorphins. Laugh and cry more.

Photo by: Mariana

Allergy : the basic story

2008-04-24T16:09:00.004+09:00

What is an allergy? Do you remember the last time you got rash all over your skin after eating a certain sea-food? It just means that you are allergic to that certain food. It is estimated that food allergy occurs in 1–2% of adults, and 8% of children 6 years of age or under. Of that group of children, however, only about 3% have clinicallyproven allergic reactions to foods.

Now food allergy is just one of many types of allergy. An allergy is an immunologically-mediated adverse reaction to a foreign substance, usually a protein. Allergic reactions can affect almost any tissue or organ in the body, with clinical manifestations depending on the target organ. People might have food allergy, insect allergy, drug allergy or event pollen allergy. Typical clinical manifestations of allergy include asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and urticaria/angioedema.

Photo by Nota

Fighting alcoholism

2008-04-23T19:43:00.004+09:00

Undoubtedly alcoholism (meaning alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse) is one of primary problems in our society. Alcoholism is more common in males than in females, with an estimated male-to-female ratio as high as five-to-one. A United States study conducted between 1990 and 1991, using DSM standards, found that 14% of the adult population (ages 15–54) had, at some time, met the criteria for alcohol dependence; and 7% had been alcohol-dependent in the past year. An earlier, similar study showed that about 5% of Americans qualified for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse at some point during their life.

So, how can we tell if somebody in our family (ourself included) got alcohol dependence? Here are some of the indicative symptoms:

• not remembering conversations or commitments
• losing interest in activities that were once pleasurable
• ritualized drinking, before, with, and after dinner and being upset if the pattern is interrupted
• becoming irritable as “happy hour” approaches, especially if alcohol is not available
• drinking alone or secretly
• hiding alcohol in unusual places

Alcohol when consumed in an inappropriate dosage will harm many of our bodily system including gastrointestinal system, blood, nervous system, heart and circulatory system, liver and reproductive system. Heavy drinking has a negative effect on fertility in both men and women, decreasing testicular and ovarian size, interfering with sperm and egg production and viability, disrupting menstrual cycles, and reducing libido. When pregnancy is achieved reduced quality of sperm and egg may significantly and permanently affect the quality of life, pre-, peri- and postnatally, of the child.

One very simple tool for beginning the diagnosis of alcoholism is called the CAGE questionnaire. It consists of four questions, with the first letter of each key word spelling out the word CAGE:
• Have you ever tried to Cut down on your drinking?
• Have you ever been Annoyed by anyone’s comments about your drinking?
• Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
• Do you ever need an Eye-opener (a morning drink of alcohol) to start the day?

If you feel that you or somebody in your family need help with your drinking habit, please do not hesitate to consult your doctor before the problem gets worse.

Image by Carlos
Ref: The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Second Edition

About Vitamin B2

2007-11-08T14:14:00.003+09:00

Ever heard about riboflavin? Let me describe it using everyday words. Riboflavin (aka Vitamin B2) is your cells battery. Riboflavin gives you energy at the most basic level—inside your cells. You need it to make two of the enzymes that are absolutely vital for releasing energy from the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins you eat. To make a complicated story short, riboflavin keeps you alive.

Aside from that little chore, riboflavin also does a bunch of other things in your body, either by itself or along with the other members of the B team (especially pyridoxine and niacin). Riboflavin regulates cell growth and reproduction and helps you make healthy red blood cells. It helps your immune system by keeping the mucous membranes that line your respiratory and digestive systems in good shape. If invading germs still sneak in, riboflavin helps you make antibodies for fighting them off. Your eyes, nerves, skin, nails, and hair all need riboflavin to stay healthy. It might even help your memory—older people with high levels of riboflavin do better on memory tests.

So, what kind of foods would be a good source for riboflavin. Large amounts of riboflavin are found in milk and other dairy foods. Good choices here include cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. Meat, especially liver, is a good source of riboflavin, as is fish. Vegetable foods that are high in
riboflavin include broccoli, spinach, avocados, mushrooms, and asparagus. Most breads, baked
goods, and pasta are made with flour that has been enriched with riboflavin and other B vitamins; most breakfast cereals also have riboflavin and other B's added to them.

Photo by Asif

Advertise in my blogs

2007-10-28T17:46:00.023+09:00

Since its launch, my blog has received a constantly increasing number of visitors and subscribers coming from about a thousand cities all over the world.

Advertising is simple and straight forward in my blogs.

Choose the size or format of your banner (given below)
Email your banner in jpeg, gif, bmp or png to vina[at]agusbudiyono.org
I am going to send the bill to your email
Your ads will be shown within the same day your payment is received

Ads format:

Microbar (88x31) $45
Square button (125x125) $ 75
Half banner (234x60) $ 100
Full banner (468x60) $ 150
Skyscrapper (120x600) $ 250
Wide Skyscrapper (180x600) $ 300
Leaderboard (728x90) $ 300

Pricing is shown for monthly flat rate. Click on the format to view the actual size. Full and half banners can only be displayed in my personal blog.

Garlic, the wonder drug for your health

2007-10-17T13:21:00.000+09:00

Garlic has been known since ancient times as the "wonder panacea" for many diseases ranging from atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, flu, colds, coughs, bronchitis, gastrointestinal problems, and menstrual pain. A large number of research studies show that garlic, either fresh, powdered or extract is effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. One study reported that Garlic was able to reduced arterial plaque formation by nearly 20% in some participants, the benefits being most notable in women. In one study from Beown University of Medicine and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, researchers showed that blood cholesterol levels dropped significantly due to consumption of garlic extract in pill form.

Dr. Eric Block who has conducted research on the sulfur compounds of garlic at the State University of New York at Albany, stated that: epidemiological and medical studies suggest that individuals regularly consuming garlic show a lower incidence of stomach cancer, have longer blood clotting times and show lower blood lipid levels (which indirectly translates into reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease). The primary active ingredient in garlic is alliin. Alliin is an odorless chemical that is similar in chemical structure to the sulfur-containing amino acid, cysteine. When garlic bulbs are crushed, alliin is converted into another compound called allicin which in turn produces other compounds: ajoene, allyl sulfides, and vinyldithiins. Allicin and its deratives are what give garlic its characteristic odor and many of its medicinal effects.

Now having known the wonder of garlic to our health, how much garlic do we need to eat to harness its benefit? A clove a day will keep our health in a good shape. According to researchers, you can get garlic into your diet any way you can. Garlic pills and tablets vary in the amount of active ingredients they contain. Generally, those that are not cooked or heat treated will have more allicin.

So, garlic bread anyone?

Browse available Garlic supplements in the store

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Preventive services

2007-10-17T08:24:00.009+09:00

One of a good preventive practice is seeing your doctor regularly. What can your doctor do for you to stay healthy? First of all, in addition of treating sick person, doctors are trained to encourage and promote healthy living practices. A preventive service from your doctor can cover counseling or test, including the following:

Consultation regarding healthy practices: healthy diet, quit smoking, practicing safe sex and exercise program
General check up: a series of tests to screen your general health status or specific part of your body (heart, kidney etc)
Measurement of body weights, blood cholesterol level or blood pressure
Special test at certain schedule such as pap smear test
Immunizations for prevention of certain illness both for children and adults (TB shots, Varisella shot etc)

The fact about homocysteine

2007-10-04T11:13:00.001+09:00

Did you doctor ever talk about homocysteine with you? Typically when you see your doctor for a general health check up, she will measure your blood cholesterol level and blood pressure. Unfortunately, one other reading, homocysteine level, is not usually performed and given unless you asked for one. What is homocysteine? It is an amino acid made in your body from protein which is in itself not dangerous. However, when excess homocysteine from inside the cell gets shoved into the circulatory system for disposal it may spell danger to your heart than any other single risk factor. Too much of it surging through your arteries can cause injury to the walls, eventually allowing cholesterol to build up and block off blood flow causing a heart attack or stroke.

How can we control the healthy level of homocysteine? Consume more of the three vitamin Bs -folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12- in your diet is the sure answer. The three vitamins help break down homocysteine and clearing it from your system. So, seek and eat food that are good sources of those three vitamins. My recommendation is banana which provides 36 percent of your B6 needs. In addition, a serving of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal supplies 100 percent of your folate daily requirement.

Find food or supplement to control your Homocysteine

Preventive heatlth care for women

2007-09-28T12:23:00.001+09:00

Women have different level of health requirements than men do due their more complex body functionalities. Accordingly preventive health program for women is so designed. Here are some general guidelines for women preventive practices:

Adult women should have a general medical check-up once a year
They should check their weight, blood pressure and blood cholesterol level regularly
Pap smear test is recommended every three year to screen for cervical cancer
Over the age 40, the women should be screened for breast cancer using mammogram once every year or other year
The women also need to be checked for colorectal cancer
Consultation regarding calcium needs to prevent osteoporosis or bone problems
Advice regarding hormone replacement therapy for post menopause period

Preventive measures

2007-09-01T10:17:00.001+09:00

The way we live our life will determine the quality of our health. Factors like, whether we drink or smoke, can strongly affect our health and well-being. So, indeed in the end of the day, it is all about choice. We can lead a healthy living if we want to. Here are some preventive measures for you to stay healthy:

Eat a balance and healthy diet
Do not smoke any form of tobacco
Build regular exercise or workout
Never use illegal drugs
Drink moderately, if at all
Have enough quality sleep
See your doctor regularly for preventive care

Recommended books:

Nutrient and energy balance

2007-08-29T21:28:00.001+09:00

You go to work every day and tend to take for granted how much energy that your body has consumed. For every type of physical activity, our body requires energy. The amount depends on the duration and type of activity. This energy amount is measured in kcal and is obtained from the body stores or the food we eat. So it is important to be fair to ourself regarding the nutrition intake to balance our level of activity. But how much is enough?

First of all, there are two considerations: variety and amount. You have to carefully planned your nutrition to provide a good nutrients balance and energy balance. The variety of nutrients that you need to consume in balance are:

Proteins - important to growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues
Fats - one source of energy and important in relation to fat soluble vitamins
Carbohydrates - the main source of energy
Minerals - those inorganic elements occurring in the body and which are critical to its normal functions
Vitamins - water and fat soluble vitamins play important roles in many chemical processes in the body
Water - essential to normal body function - as a vehicle for carrying other nutrients and because 60% of the human body is water
Roughage - the fibrous indigestible portion of our diet essential to health of the digestive system

Now, how much energy that we need to provide from those nutrients. Here is the simple calculation for basic energy requirement: for every Kg of body weight 1.3 kcal is required every hour. (If you weigh 55Kg, you would require 1.3 × 24hrs × 55Kg = 1716 kcal/day)

If you work out, you will need an extra energy. For each hours workout you require an additional 8.5 kcal for each Kg of body weight.

alli weight loss program for you

2007-08-28T11:14:00.003+09:00

Amazon.com Product Description



alli is more than just a pill. It's an innovative weight loss program that works with you, not for you. alli can help you lose 50% more weight than dieting alone, but you have to do your part by changing the way you eat and live to see results. Is the hard work worth it? Yes. With alli you can achieve gradual and healthy weight loss. If you do your part, alli can teach you smart eating and activity habits you can follow for a lifetime. The alli program starts with your commitment to making smart food choices. It combines the only over-the-counter, FDA-approved weight loss pill with an individually tailored support plan, to help you adopt healthy eating habits. When you take alli along with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, you can lose 50% more weight than dieting alone. For example, instead of losing 10 pounds with diet alone, you can lose 15 pounds with the alli program. alli is safe--it works in your digestive system, not in your heart or brain. It will not cause jitters, sleeplessness, or a racing heart. You can't just try alli--you have to commit to it. We encourage you to read more and see if you agree with the statements at the end of this brochure, before you buy alli. This information and more can also be found at MyAlli.com. Or, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or dietician to help determine if you're ready.



Typically, enzymes in your intestines break down fat from food so your body can absorb the fat. But, the active ingredient in alli attaches to some of these enzymes and prevents them from digesting about a quarter of the fat you eat. Because undigested fat can't be absorbed, it passes out of your body naturally. The main side effect occurs when you eat a meal with too much fat while taking alli. If so much fat is blocked that your stool can't absorb it, you might have side effects. Because they are not harmful, we call them "treatment effects". They include loose or more frequent stools, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, or gas with an oily discharge. The excess fat that passes out of your body is in no way harmful. In fact, you may recognize it as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza. Treatment effects can be lessened if you stick to reduced-calorie, low-fat meals that average 15 grams of fat per meal. Don't use alli if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have had an organ transplant, or if you are taking warfarin. Do not take alli if you are taking cyclosporine, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in alli capsules. Do not take alli if you are not overweight. You can take up to three alli capsules per day, one with each meal containing fat.

More information on Alli Weight-Loss Aid

Simple guide to weight control

2007-08-28T11:14:00.001+09:00

Did you often look at the mirror and feel unsatisfied with how your body looks like? Or you feel that you should have weighed less than you do now? Controlling weight seems to be one of the major constant issues for women. Weight reducer products have been mushrooming in the market in response to the ever increasing people demand of getting slimmer.

I am of the opinion that in regards to the weight control, our health should still be maintained as the most important considerations. Here are guides for healthy weight control:

No quick-fix. Our body is designed to adapt to gradual changes since we were born. Dramatic weight loss (or otherwise gain) can produce unhealthy side-effects to your body. The important key word in weight control program is patience. Do not adhere to any miracle in regards to weight control program. We need to work to achieve our target weight.

Eat healthy and balanced food. To achieve or maintain your target weight, you do not have to apply strict all-or-nothing rules in regards to your choices of diet. You can still enjoy some of you favorite foods. What you need to observe is the amount of intake and the variety of foods that you consume daily with more fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid fast food (junk food) the best you can.

Exercise regularly. The most important point is regularity. Twenty minutes amount of jogging every day or four times a week is better than 3 hours exercise once a week. Exercise burns your calorie and supports your weight control program.

No going back to square one. Once you set your goal and habit, stick with it. There will be a lot of temptations along the way to break or relax your discipline.

Keep positive mental attitude. Whatever goal you want to achieve (losing or gaining weight) it is important to stay realistic. Love your body and be thankful for what you have.

Photo by Lusi

Monitor you body fat

2007-08-24T10:47:00.003+09:00

The Omron HBF-400 Fat Loss Monitor with Scale is the perfect way to track your weight loss goals, thanks to its fast, accurate measurement of weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI). Just step on the HBF-400 and in seconds you'll have much of the information that's vital to any

Simple controls and a large, easy-to-read display make fat and weight monitoring a snap. View larger.

Just step on and see your data in seconds.

weight loss or weight maintenance program.

For the Whole Family
The HBF-400 supports up to four personal profiles, so each member of your family can track their own measurements independently. Plus, an easy-to-read and large digital display makes it a snap to get the information you need.

Detailed Measurement
The weight display measures weight up to 330 pounds in .2-pound increments, while body fat percentage can be measured from 5 to 60 percent in .1 percent increments.

One of the keys to weight loss and management is tracking your body mass index, or BMI. The HBF-400 rates your BMI from 7.0 to 90.0 in .1 increments. BMI is classified at three levels: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.

Made for Just about Everyone
The HBF-400 is set up to provide measurements for folks of nearly all heights (3'4" to 6' 6-3/4") and nearly all ages (10 to 79 years). Measurements are customized for males and females, as well.

Power and Dimensions
The HBF-400 runs on four AA batteries, and you can expect about a year of battery life when the device is used four times a day. The unit measures 12.2 x 11.8 x 2.1 inches (L x W x H). The unit weighs 4.7 pounds.

What's in the Box
HBF-400 unit, 4 AA batteries, and instruction manual.

Product Features

Provides accurate measurement of weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI)
Supports up to four personal profiles, so each member of your family can track their own measurements
BMI classified at three levels: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese
Provides measurements for people of nearly all heights (3'4" to 6' 6-3/4") and nearly all ages (10 to 79 years)
Measures 12.2 x 11.8 x 2.1 inches (L x W x H)

More info on Omron HBF-400 Body Fat Monitor and Scale

Strawberries and our health

2007-08-24T10:47:00.001+09:00

Ever wonder what a glass of strawberry juice can do to our body? Well, in essence strawberry is a fabulous fruit that is packed with important nutrients for our health. Among other fruits (pears, cherries, apples, grapes, oranges and other commonly eaten fruits), strawberry is in the top list in regards to protection power to our heart and artery walls.

The first factor to consider from this fruit is its content of antioxidant. Strawberry is loaded with flavonoids particularly ones called quercetin and kaempferol. The antioxidant helps protect our body against oxidative damage. Remember our story about LDL cholesterol? The antioxidant keeps the LDL from oxidizing and becoming detrimental to our artery walls. In particular, quercetin and kaempferol prevent blood plattelets from clomping together. This capability minimizes the formation of blood clots --the number one enemy for your heart-- thereby reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Another goody from strawberry is vitamin C. For one cup of serving, you will have about 140% of your daily needs. Now, with all these facts, start having a bowl of fresh strawberries for your powerful breakfast. You can also have them for dipping in our favorite yogurt. If you are fans of morning cereal, you might want to add slices of strawberry. Not only that your breakfast will look more appetizing, it is also doing wonder to your health.

Photo by Charlene

Sensual Couples Massage

2007-08-22T11:07:00.001+09:00

Couples sensual massage is a fun and exciting way to treat and share with your partner. The lessons you'll learn in this video are informational but still entertaining. You'll learn lessons that you'll be able to use for the rest of your life. You will learn about the different ways to touch your partner to relax them and take away their worries. You will learn about the benefits of massage therapy. This video is the gateway to a more fulfilling relationship.

Sensual massage is a wonderful way for lovers to explore and enhance their relationship, both on physical and emotional levels. It can be used for simple relaxation, or as a prelude to more erotic endeavors! You can use our instructional video to learn how to create a totally satisfying pleasure experience.

Pleasure the senses through the art of massage. We'll show you how your pleasure with your hands. No other special ability is needed. No knowledge of anatomy is required or unusual massage techniques used. A quiet atmosphere and a bottle of your favorite scented oil plus a desire to please your partner is all that is required to spread pleasure over every inch of the body. Couples Sensual Massage offers a complete comprehensive body massage. It gives suggestions on health, relaxation, sensuality and pleasure. It's so easy anyone can start massaging in one evening. Enjoy the benefits of massage therapy and soothe away every day stresses and experience a new you with your new found techniques.

More info on Sensual Couples Massage

The power of orgasm

2007-08-22T11:06:00.001+09:00

Orgasm is arguably a very private experience. How can one describe orgasm? In medical terms, the orgasm is an intensely pleasurable sensation followed by a feel of great relaxation resulted from burst of accumulated sexual tension. Physically it is manifested as rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region. Overall, it is a total psychological and body response.

How can orgasm affect our well-being? First of all, the experience of orgasm varies among individual. Some can have subtle and mild orgasm while others might enjoy exploding and intense fireworks-like orgasm. The quality of orgasm is dependent on multitude of factors including psychological (mood, attitude towards sexual experience, relation to partner) and physical (health condition, fatigue and length of last orgasm). Whatever level of orgasm one have during their sexual intercourse, beyond the pleasure, it produces many benefits to our body and wellness:

Orgasm releases endorphin hormone that has a distinct soothing and tranquilizing effect to our body. As a result, we can ward off insomnia and have better sleep leading to quality rest necessary for our well-being
Orgasm is typically followed by lower blood pressure and sudden relaxation. The condition puts our heart and body in general into a calming break.
The sexual stimulation triggers the release of phenetylamine, a type of natural amphetamine that controls our appetite. With the intent to achieve orgasm, our desire for food (or even cigarette) can be reduced or control.
Sexual activities that finally lead to orgasm burn calories
Orgasm can effectively relieves stress and tension

With all those fabulous effects, no wonder that we expect that it happen more often.

Milk: wonderful drink

2007-08-21T13:27:00.000+09:00

Got milk recently? Milk is undoubtedly a wonderful drink that offers a wide array of health benefit. The calcium contained in milk keeps your heart healthy. A study showed that people who regularly consume a sufficient intake of calcium tend to have normal blood pressure. The healthy nutrient also prevent the detrimental bone disease osteoporosis. Next in the list is the content of vitamin B12 along with folate and vitamin B6 which together help clear our artery from homocysteine, an artery-damaging substance.

The only question remains is what about the fat content? Despite all those healthy nutrients, milk is packed with fat. A one-cup serving contains about 8 gr fat (5gr of it is saturated fat). This serving alone already takes 25% of our daily value. There are many types of milk depending on their fat content (whole milk, reduced-fat milk, low-fat milk, skim, buttermilk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk). The guideline from me is then you need to watch out for the fat content. If your blood cholesterol level is higher than normal, it is wise to consider to substitute the whole milk with reduced-fat(2%) or low-fat milk (1%). In this case, you might need to sacrifice a little of taste for the benefit of your heart.

Photo by Adrian

Risk of dehydration

2007-08-20T11:54:00.000+09:00

Dehydration is sometimes associated with heatstroke or hot summer day. Actually it can happen due to a number of reasons e.g vomiting and diarrhea. Diseases in the gastrointestinal tract can also cause dehydration. What is commonly important is the fact that when the body loses large quantities of water, it also loses essential minerals called electrolytes. Our body can be seriously impaired without enough water and electrolytes.

What is dehydration. Dehydration can be recognized as the excessive loss of water from the body. It is potentially life-threatening, and requires early recognition and treatment.
Infants and children are more vulnerable to dehydration than adults due to their lower body weights and higher turnover of water and electrolytes. The elderly and those with illnesses are also at higher risk.

Symptoms. It is better to know the symptom earlier before the problem gets severe. The most apparent indicator of dehydration is rapid loss of body weight. When associated with certain illness, this symptom might be easily distinguishable from the effect of illness itself. In that case another signs can be a better hint: dry mouth,increasing thirst, weakness or lightheadedness,
darkening of the urine, or a decrease in urination.

Treatment. Dehydration can be treated by restoring the lost fluids and electrolytes. Research has shown that early use of an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte, Lytren or Infalyte) is the best treatment. If a child has been vomiting, it's a good idea to wait a moment after the last episode before attempting rehydration. Then give a small volume of oral electrolyte solution -60 to 90 ml (2-3 ounces) every thirty to forty minutes, until the child seems stable enough to accept plain foods. Occasionally, children who don't respond to oral electrolyte solution need to
be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids.

Photo by Vince

Asparagus' wonder

2007-08-18T09:39:00.000+09:00

It is dinner time and as an opening menu you have a mouth-watering asparagus soup. Well, asparagus is much more than a delicacy. It contains folic acid which is important ingredient for a healthy cardiovascular system. Folic acid is known to lower the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and spina bifida. Asparagus is laden with source of protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Asparagus is also brimming with naturally occurring phytochemicals of glutathione and rutin. Like banana, asparagus is a very good source of potassium and quite low in sodium.

How it works. The folic acid helps protect vessels from artery damaging levels of the blood factor homocysteine. Note that high level of homocysteine boost risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Serving recommendation. Consume asparagus and other source of folate on a regular basis. You can serve asparagus as a delicious hot soup. It can also be steamed as a sidedish. Whatever your choice, remember that it is an excellent food for your healthy heart.

Photo by Anna

Stress, nutrition and physical exercise

2007-08-17T22:02:00.001+09:00

Our body is designed to move. A life without enough movement can cause nutrition stress. The bones need daily deposit of calcium, phosphor and magnesium to maintain its strength and density. Without a certain level of physical exercise, the bones can not efficiently gathered nutrition from the blood even though the nutrition intake is enough. A healthy load to the bone caused by physical activities is an absolute need. Lack of physical exercise and inadequate calcium intake can cause osteoporosis, a certain condition which causes the bone to be fragile, easily broken and damaged. High calcium diet combined with physical exercise can help prevent osteoporosis.

Muscles need a certain stimulation to absorb nutrition from the blood. Without a regular use and practice, our muscles can grow weaker and shrink. This can lead to the decrease of strength. Physical exercise can reduce the risk of fat and increase the level of good fat in our blood. In addition, physical exercise can also increase the heart and lungs fitness.

Photo by Bern

Natural treatment for your back

2007-08-16T11:11:00.007+09:00

After a long day at work, sometimes we feel our back is a bit strained. Fortunately, there is a natural way to take care your back problem: the Back Roller. An excellent device for massaging the spinal column. This is the descendent of the original Ma Roller which was developed over 30 years ago. The new rubber rings stabilize the rolling action making it easier to control your movements. By giving a gentle stretch to the spine and a deep massage to the antigravity muscles in the back, the Back Roller stimulates three fundamental lines of energy known to every ancient culture around the world. These three lines represent the very core of the man - both conscious and unconscious functions.

It is important to cultivate a feel for using the Back Roller and develop an individual relationship to it. Be open and be conscious. Then you will know when to use it, where to use it and just the right duration required for effective use. Although the Back Roller may be used for the thighs, calves and feet, its main use is on the back. Use it from top to down only.

You do not need to roll and move, but allow the Back Roller to sink in gently and penetrate every point. Lie relaxed on a flat surface. Have the Back Roller centered under the head. Raise the knees. Give the Back Roller a light push down with arms curled overhead. Catch the Back Roller under the upper back, centrally positioned, so that the spine passes through the central notch. Now, lock hands behind the head. Slowly push body headward with legs. Seek out tender or pleasurable spots on the back and rest there until tension gives. Move on slowly to the loins and buttocks and rest wherever something is felt. When there is tension, give it time.

Begin with short sessions and prolong the sessions as skill is acquired. Not more than 45 minutes per session is recommended. As relaxation deepens, the larynx, the forehead and then the crown of the head may become relaxed and energized. Remain conscious and do not fall asleep on the Back Roller. Relax and feel into the new posture of your being after use. Allow the peace to settle. You may sit up and roll thighs and calves on the wings of the Back Roller. The feet may be massaged by standing on the wings and rolling to and fro while the body is supported by holding a table or wall.

The Back Roller may be held by the wings and applied on the front of the thighs and calves and on the head and neck. The Back Roller may be held with one hand and hammered gently on the shoulders. The methods just described require some muscular exertion and should be done separately from stimulation of the back.

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Moist heat aroma therapy

2007-08-16T11:11:00.003+09:00

Do you need a bit of relaxation after a long day.

Well, you can try one of moist heat aroma therapies. The Spa Necessities® Aroma Therapy Moist Heat Warming Neck Wrap provides moist heat, for comfort purposes, but also provides aroma therapy, which has relaxing properties of itÕs own.

Spa Necessities® Warming Therapy Products possess a level of quality that you will find at some of the finest Spas around the world! The Back and Shoulder Wrap is made from the highest quality polar fleece to ensure pleasure and comfort for every part of the body.

The heat/scent packs may be removed for machine washing. When your neck is stiff and achy we provide BIG relief because you are just a little stiff in your shoulders and at the top of your back.We have it all covered! Microwaveable in 30 second increments until it reaches the desired temperature. We recommend 30 second increments as all microwaves are different.

Product Features

Spa Necessities® gives you quality that you will find at the finest Spa's around the world!
Moist heat increases circulation & speeds recovery, bringing fresh blood cells to the achy muscles.
Moist heat (fomentation) is commonly prescribe by physical therapists chiropractors and doctors.
This is self-hydrating Moist Heat Source absorbs water from the air. Includes washable cover.

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Sexual desire: problem for women

2007-08-16T11:11:00.001+09:00

Loss of sexual desire is common for both men and women for different reasons. For women, sexual dysfunction syndrome is defined as difficulty in becoming sexually aroused or achieving orgasm. One of typical causes is simply inadequate sexual prolog or foreplay. The problem can also sometimes be triggered by exhaustion. Other causes are more complex including: anxiety (preoccupation and worry about other important areas of life), psychological problems (stress, depression and poor self-esteem), feelings of shame or guilt about sex due to religious belief, and fear of pregnancy. All these causes can strongly affect women's mental readiness for responding to sexual stimulation from her partner. From medical side, chronic illness can also a major cause for sexual problem.

As sex is basically a mutual activity between man and woman, beyond the above causes, the treatment for sexual dysfunction problem for women should consider the quality of relation between a woman and her partner. In this aspect, sometime the problem is caused by inadequate experience or insight about sexuality on the part of either partner. More intimate communication regarding the matter should help ease the problem. A more intricate problem is when the root-cause is the basic aspect of relationship e.g. lack of intimacy, fears of disloyalty, physical or emotional abuse, and feelings of being used as sexual object. The repressed emotion toward the sexual partner coming from those kind of problem might result in sexual dysfunction.

For most of the cases, the communication between sexual partners is the key. Talk with your partner about your sexual needs and feelings. When that does not help, it is wise to seek professional help from a doctor.

Photo by Corey